Supporting Kids Of America's Heroes Through Deployments

Jun 1, 2018
3 min read

For military kids, it can seem like one seat at the table is usually empty. For the last seventeen years, military troops have experienced a high operational tempo in combat zones.

In plain English: troops are in dangerous parts of the world very often and for long periods of time.

It is not uncommon, based on conversations with military spouses in the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force, for active duty troops to have extremely close deployments. Units will spend months training for a deployment, only to return and start that training and deployment cycle all over again.

Even though our nation’s combat commitments are decreased, troops are still deployed around the globe to support ongoing missions.

All this in-and-out caused by the training/deployment cycle leads to turmoil and uncertainty for military children. It is not uncommon for military children to act out behaviorally, for grades to slip or for children to have emotional reactions.

Our communities can support our Kids of America’s Heroes through these trying times with a little thought and a lot of heart.

How Communities Can Support Military Kids Through Deployments

Showing up for military families, especially now that our most visible “wars” are fading from the news, is vital. Troops are still deploying. Our forces are forward deployed in the Middle East, Asia and Oceania right now.

Reach Out Locally

There might be a family missing a deployed service member in your community right now! Even if you live far from a military base, National Guard and Reserve troops could be called for active duty at any time.

Through your church or community group, let families know you are there for them. Offer to bring over a hot meal, watch their kids or set up play-dates. Sometimes, just putting the word out there can be a huge boost!

If you need help with ideas or organization, please contact KOAH for ideas! Helping military families is what we do!

Send a BearHug

Thousands of MilKids are missing a loved one right now. Send a little extra love their way with a BearHug care package!

These kid-focused packages are created with customized goodies based on age, gender and interests.

Donate to fund even more BearHugs for military children or contact KOAH to learn about bigger ways to get involved.

If you have a military-connected child who could use a little extra support, encourage their parent or guardian to register them to receive a BearHug!

Built-In Military Supports

There are tons of military programs ready to serve military children! But it can help for neighbors, schools, churches and community groups to be aware of these resources, too.

School Liaison Officers: available on all military bases can help with school transitions and building school-base connections

Exceptional Family Member Program: helping families with dependents, child and adult, who have a wide range of health concerns and disabilities

Military One Source: free counseling and support programs for families, including minor children, covering a wide range of concerns

For even more resources, military blogger Jo, My Gosh has compiled excellent guides for all things deployment.

Connect with Schools

The School Liaison Officers (SLO), located at every military base, are great resources for military families who are seeking stability during PCS season or deployment. The SLO can help schools connect with local military units to build community spirit and understanding.

It’s also important for military families to work closely with schools during deployments. Teachers can often spot trouble quickly due to slipping grades or behavioral changes. One great way to find the right words is to work with an education coach.

Find Fun

Especially during the summer months, it’s important to find fun ways to occupy children. Staying busy can be essential for MilKids during deployment.

Check out the MilKids Ed Smart Kids Summer Challenge! You’ll get free activity idea plans and resources to make summer learning fun and easy.

Other easy ideas are local “field trips” to parks, museums and even the local library.

Supporting Kids Of America's Heroes during deployment takes a village!

Donate to Kids of America’s Heroes to help show your commitment to championing MilKids!

Meg Flanagan M.Ed and K.O.A.H. Military Education Specialist

I'm a teacher, blogger, writer, runner, mother, and military spouse and author. I am passionate about helping ALL children learn, offering tips to guide parents through the K-12 education world, and providing useful advice to teachers of all ages and stages.Visit Meg's Blog at MilKidsEd.com